(Driving)Good Ideas gone Bad

[RustyJC]

Great!! Henceforth I'll remain in the aforesaid left lane in my example above, not merge until I reach the barrels and then expect someone to follow the zipper principle and allow my 55'+ truck and 5th wheel to cut in front of them. If they resist or pull out their very large caliber handgun (hey, this is Texas, you know), I'll tell them that Mick, a Certified Work Zone Traffic Control expert, told me this is what I'm supposed to do.

I'll get back with you after our next trip and let you know how that works out......if I'm still breathing.

Rusty

[ScottsJourney]

Crabby Mike, you said exactly what I was trying to say.

[Janet H]

Originally Posted by RustyJC

If they resist or pull out their very large caliber handgun (hey, this is Texas, you know), ...........

Rusty

YouTube - Blow 'em Away © C. Brodsky

Deep breaths and a good sense of humor help....

[RustyJC]

<dry West Texas gallows humor on>

Janet, that ain't funny. Down here, Bubba believes that stuff - that would be like a hymn to him!

Back in the 70s, it wasn't uncommon at all to have someone pull a handgun and ventilate another driver's fenders on Loop 610 in Houston - I kid you not... I guess that's why TXDOT paints the following on many road signs - Drive Friendly (or you may get your ... blown away)

Here in Texas, a legitimate alibi is, "Officer, the ole boy just needed killin'."

<dry West Texas gallows humor off>

Rusty

[Janet H]

I believe you ... Texas seems like another world to me. Here in the Pacific NW, if you pulled out a gun, you might be asked if the rounds are biodegradable... we all have our challenges

[CD]

Originally Posted by RustyJC

Sorry, I'm not buying that when the same experts post signs such as "Left Lane Closed 5 Miles Ahead" 5 miles is PLENTY of time to get in the correct lane.

Rusty

Below is a link to article/blog in our local news paper about merging. The road described is a 4 lane state highway. The south bound lanes are merged to left just before an overpass and the traffic from the overpass joins on the right to make it 2 lanes again. This is an everyday problem. Since this came out, sometimes it works but usually not.

Road Warrior » Blog Archive » Revisiting the merge west of Bremerton

[NLOVNIT]

My opinion is, the zipper effect of merging late works...in theory. Unfortunately, a vast number of drivers have the "you aren't getting in front of me" mentality, ride the bumper of the vehicle in front of them so one can't do the zipper merge & when several of those folks are lined up bumper to bumper, there is no zipper at all. I don't ever see those people changing their ways, so the ideal scenario where last minute merging goes smoothly will be just out of reach.

Lori-

[Crabby Mike]

Originally Posted by CD

Below is a link to article/blog in our local news paper about merging. The road described is a 4 lane state highway. The south bound lanes are merged to left just before an overpass and the traffic from the overpass joins on the right to make it 2 lanes again. This is an everyday problem. Since this came out, sometimes it works but usually not.

Road Warrior » Blog Archive » Revisiting the merge west of Bremerton

Interesting article, once again certifying the superiority of the zipper method!

One quibble though -- the "expert" who says higher speeds don't lead to more efficient use of highways is way off base. You don't measure efficiency by how many cars can fit on a stretch of highway, but by how many move through it! If fitting is your measure, the most efficient use would be when not moving at all. In truth, as long as the increased space between cars does not grow at a faster pace than their speed, the efficiency will go up as speed increases.

[ka6bud]

Rusty I agree with u 100% afer returning from 12 th mile trip to include Ak Mt Rushmore and to the east coast with plenty of construction. I was Pleased to see the trucker to this I call it a rolling blockade I feel it slows traffic and avoida the high speed merge at the last possible time also if driver would the concept of every other car merge area work fine the problem is when the last minute driver are more than one we can always go to large event concert or sporting and have fun in parking lot when leaving

[Deerhunter]

Getting rear ended by the car that was rear ended while doing 75 mph on I-95 in the passing lane just shows you tailgating is very dangerous.
While we were pulled off way down deep in the grass another accident was cause by the traffic being backed up by the "Rubber-neckers".
Interstate traveling is not fun - I do most of my traveling now on back roads and have thoroughly enjoyed the sights of rural America. I do find the drivers more courteous on the back roads, too.

[SRT]

Originally Posted by vermilye

Although I agree that it is annoying to have someone zip by me while waiting in the "correct" lane at a construction site, studies have shown that using both lanes until the last minute moves more traffic faster. The last time I was on I 81 in PA, the merge signs stated "Use Both Lanes" and expected vehicles to alternate at the merge point. Don't
really know if it works better that way...

Yup, Minnesota is doing the same thing. In fact they've made announcements on the tube here since the massive reconstruction of roadway and bridges on I-35 started.

[SRT]

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

My opinion is, the zipper effect of merging late works...in theory. Unfortunately, a vast number of drivers have the "you aren't getting in front of me" mentality, ride the bumper of the vehicle in front of them so one can't do the zipper merge & when several of those folks are lined up bumper to bumper, there is no zipper at all. I don't ever see those people changing their ways, so the ideal scenario where last minute merging goes smoothly will be just out of reach.

Lori-

Yup, the "zipper effect" will only work effectively when all the drivers co-operate. Those few that refuse to co-operate screw up the works every time.

[RustyJC]

For clarification, I have no problem with the zipper principle in theory. Having two lines of equal length alternating merges at the designated merge point would be fine - if that's how it actually worked in practice.

To cite an old homile - In theory, there's no difference between theory and practice; in practice, there is.

Rusty

[idenphones]

I think we all forgot about the other driver that loves to sit in your blind spot for several miles.

Glad I have the DW with me most of the time. Even with mirros and cameras they still manage to find that spot!